Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
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New Delhi: 17/08/2016
- ENVIRONMENT & FOREST MINISTER SHRI IMRAN HUSSAIN INAUGURATES VAN MAHOTSAV PLANTATION DRIVE, 2016 AT MITRAON CITY IN NAJAFGARH AREA OF DELHI.
- ECO HUTS, MEDITATION CENTRES, WATCH TOWER, WALKING TRACKS, WATERBODY, MEDICINAL PLANTS GARDEN, HEALTH CLUB ETC. BESIDES A BUTTER FLY GARDEN WILL BE DEVELOPED AT THE MITRAON CITY FOREST.
The Minister of Environment & Forest Govt. of Delhi, Sh. Imran Hussain, today inaugurated the Van Mahotsav Plantation Drive, 2016 at Mitraon City in Najafgarh Area of Delhi. Area MLA, Sh Kailash Gahlot, Around 500 children from 12 neighbourhood Govt. and private schools also participated in the Plantation Drive.
On the occasion, around 1500 tree saplings were planted including that of bargad, champa, mango, ficusbenzaminakadam, arjun, neem etc. Around 250 medicinal plants were also planted including different species of alovera, karhipatta, tulsi, brahmi, giloe, dal-chini, ashwagandha, lemongrass, sadabahar etc.
Mitraon City Forest is one of the 26 protected forests in Delhi. Delhi Govt. has planned to develop 42 City Forests all over Delhi covering these 26 forests including Mitraon City Forest. This City Forest is spread over around 100 acres.
Delhi Govt. plans to develop around 10 acre of Mitraon City Forest land in the first phase BY providing various facilities to the residents of the neighbourhood areas viz. Eco Huts, Meditation Centres, Watch Tower, Walking Tracks, Waterbody, Medicinal Plants Garden, Health Club etc. besides a Butter Fly Garden.
The Minister took Natures Walk around the City Forest alongwith area MLA, senior officers of Environment and Forest Department, school children and local residents. He inaugurated two Eco Huts which have been developed for enjoying nature in the City Forest.
Minister speaking on the occasion Sh. Imran Hussain lauded the efforts of Area MLA which helped in the development of City Forest in Mitraon. Minister further informed that Delhi Govt. is committed to increase green cover of Delhi from present 20% to 25% in next 5 years. He also informed that in the last one year there has been appreciable increase in the green cover of the city for which Minister complimented all greening agencies.
The Minister informed that the AAP Government headed by Shri. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister is committed to provide clean air, water and environment to its residents, developing city forests in a significant step in this direction.
Shri Hussain further encouraged theaugust gathering including school children for planting atleast one tree and also nurture plantations like their family members. It was also stressed by the Hon’ble Minister that City Forest so developed also needs to be properly maintained and also needs to be provided round the clock security for preventing encroachment and also for ensuring safety of the visitors of the City Forest. Hon’ble Minister also directed Forest Department to develop more city forests expeditiously in the other parts of the city as well.
He appealed the people to plant as many trees as possible during the ongoing monsoon season which ensures better survival rate of the trees/ plants.
Sh. Kailash Gahlot thanked Minister for taking keen interest and assuring that Environment & Forest Department shall developing Mitraon City Forest at fast pace. Sh. Gahlot further expressed his gratitude to the Department for their efforts and assured that the residents of the area will remain thankful to the Minister and Department for providing them a clean and green environment in the form of City Forest for the times to come.
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